Follower for packing-receptacles.



No. 837,925. PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906.

I R. G. HANSELL.

FOLLOWER FOR PACKING REGBPTAGLE S.

APPLICATION FILED OU'IJGI 1905.

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" No. 837,925. PATENTED DEC. 11, -1906.

R. 0-. HANSELL. I FOLLOWBR FOR PACKING REGEPTACLES.

APPLIUATION FILED 0UT.16. 1905.

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FOLLOWER FOR PACKlNG-RECEPTACLES.

Specification of" Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed October 16, 1905. Serial No. 283.007.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. HANsELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Follower for Packing-R'eceptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to followers for maintaining the contents of barrels, firkins, and the like submerged beneath the preserving liquids.

Devices of this character are generally employed in receptacles containing pickles of various kinds, fish, meats, and the like, and has for its object to provide a simplyconstructed and inexpensive device which will be effectually supported in the receptacle at any desired point and permit the contents to be removed in small quantities Without removing the device from the receptacle.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood,the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportion, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advan tages within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the improved device applied. Fig. 3 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, illustrating a modified construction. Fig. 41 is a erspective view illustrating another modi ed construction.

In its simpler form the improved device comprises a follower member having a plurality of spurs movably disposed for engaging the mner walls of the receptacle and with a portion of the follower also movable to afford access to the contents of the receptacle without removing or displacing the whole follower. I

In the modified form of the device is comprised a supporting frame, a plurality of spurs movably connected to said frame for engaging the walls of the receptacle in which the device is employed, and a base portion connected to said frame, and with a section of the base removable to afford access to the contents of the receptacle without disturbing or displacing the device as a whole.

The embodiment of the invention represented in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a supporting-frame, preferably of wood and formed with bars 11 12, radially disposed, and in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the bars are coupled at the ends by a hoop or ring 10, the latter also preferably of wood. Formed in the outer portion of the bars 1 1 12 are slots 14, in which arms 15 are pivoted at 16. Secured in the outer ends of the arms 15 are spurs 17, the latter being in triangular shape in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The spurs are designed to engage the inner walls of the receptacle in which the dcvice is employed and indicated at 18, and thus firmly hold the device therein when the arms 15 are disposed in their outward position. The triangular form of the spurs 17 provides a constant sharp point for presentation to the wall of the receptacle and fitting in a correspondingly triangular-shaped recess is firmly held therein by one rivet only. The hoop 10 is smaller than the interior of the receptacle, so that the device can be readily inserted therein, the arms yielding to the downward movement, but the spurs catching in the side walls of the receptacle and preventing upward movement. The bars 11 12 will be provided with a lifting-handle 19 and also with depending pins 20, the handle to enable the device to be readily inserted and removed and the pins to engage the covering fabric 21, usually employed between devices of this character and the material in the receptacle to protect the same. The fabric thus employed may be in two sections overlapping centrally of the receptacle. and when the two-part fabric is employed the improved device herein described will be located with the joint between the fabric sections transversely of one of the relatively large areas 1.3 between the radial bars 11 12, so that the contents of the receptacle are readily accessible by separating the fabric sections and removing as much of the contents as may be required.

The modified structure shown in Fig. 3 may be employed in some forms offreceptaales, and consists in forming the -follower member in three parts 22, 23, and 24, provided with numerous aperatures and a handle 26. Arms 28, having spurs 29, are pivoted at 27 in recesses between the members 22, 23, and 24 in the same manner as the arms 15 are pivoted in the form of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and accomplishing the same purpose and in substantially the same manner. The member 24 of the follower is provided with a detachable portion 31, which may be released when portions of the contents of the receptacle are to be removed.

In the modified structure shown in Fig. 4 the base portion is in solid form, as at 32, preferably ofwood, and with a section 33 detachable for the removal of the contents of the receptacle in the same manner as in the other forms described. In this modified structure also three bars 34 are employed, being the substantial equivalents of the bars 11 12 in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the bars are provided with arms 35, terminating in spurs 36, being substantially the same and performing the same functions as the arms 15 and spurs 17 in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The detachable portion 33 projects by its inner edge beneath the adjacent bars 34 and is held in place thereby. The bars 34 and removable section 33 are also provided, respectively, with lifting-handles 37 38.

The device will thus be very convenient for use in retail stores where the contents of the receptacles are removed in small quantities at intervals, as the material may be thus removed without exposing any more of the same than necessary or removing the device as a whole.

If required, the device can be released by detaching the spurs and rotated to any de- 45 sired extent to bring the open area over another portion of the contents of the receptacle, which may be necessary under some circumstances, to provide for the uniform removal of the material.

The fabric member shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be in one or more thicknesses, as preferred.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is l. A device of the class described consisting of a supporting-frame formed of a plurality of radially disposed bars, an arm swinging from each bar and terminating in a spur adapted to engage the interior of the receptacle in which the device is employed, a base connected beneath said frame and with a section detachable, the radial bars adjacent to said removable section overhanging and the inner edges of the removable section extending beneath the overhanging portions of the bars.

2. In a device of the class described, a follower having a portion detachable, a frame surmounting said follower and having marginal recesses, arms pivoted for swinging in 70 said recesses and with triangular slots in their free ends, triangular spurs disposed in said slots and extending in advance of the arms, and transverse pins through said arms and the spurs supported therein.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a frame formed with an annular surrounding frame and radial connectlng-bars,

an arm swinging from each bar and provided with a terminal spur for engaging the recep- 8o tacle in which the device is employed, and a base portion disposed beneath said frame with a section detachable.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBT. O. HANSELL.

Witnesses:

J. R. STEWART,v R. E. BUGKMAS'IER. 

